How to Oxidize (Age) New Wood & Get A Vintage Look

UPDATE (8/2/19): I made a new video about this technique over here: • 7 Ways to Make New Woo...
When it comes to home decor, vintage is definitely in. But if you have ever done some DIY woodworking projects, you'll know it can be hard to obtain that aged wood look. You can either buy pricey "barn wood" from a boutique lumber supplier or let your new lumber from Home Depot sit in the backyard, exposed to the elements for a couple of midwest winters. OR you could use this easy, inexpensive method for aging your wood in just under a week.
What You'll Need
For this product you'll need a few household items from your pantry and garage:
- unfinished, untreated, and sanded wood
- white vinegar
- #0000 grade steel wool
- large (24 oz) glass jar
- black tea (~10 bags)
- disposable paint brushes
- 400 grit sandpaper
Creating your oxidation solution is straightforward. Take a roll of steel wool and tear off bits into your glass jar. Pour in the vinegar until your jar is full and cap the jar with the lid. Oxidation of the steel wool will take about 4-5 days in my experience. In general, the longer your solution can oxidize, the darker your wood color will be. I tested my solution on some pale pine wood after 3 days and it had a nice dark yellow hue to it. After about 6 days of sitting, the solution produced a dark gray. Because every wood will react differently, I would recommend testing your solution on scrap wood to see what kind of hue you'll get.
To help give your wood more definition and properly prep it, you'll want to brush it with a some strong black tea. I brewed some rather strong tea with 10 bags in 2 cups of boiling water. As you can imagine, the tea will slightly stain your wood, but it will also give your wood grain more of a pop. I also discovered that the black tea gives the wood a nicer finisher when you finally apply your oxidation solution. If you skip the tea step, and just use oxidation solution, the wood ends up looked just dirty and not aged. There's just something about that tea that gives the wood a more refined look - sort of how British accents make things seems more sophisticated.
When you're wood is dry from high tea, and after the oxidation solution has sat for 4-5 days, your wood will be ready to get "the look". When you crack open (not literally) your jar, there will probably still be steel wool floating in the solution - that's ok. If you leave the solution sitting long enough, eventually all steel wool remnants will dissolve. And you can save the solution for future projects. Using a foam brush, paint on the solution. The wood will almost instantly turn gray, and over the next 10 minutes, it will get even darker.
After the wood has dried, give it a light sanding with 400-grit sandpaper. This will help lighten up the stain and even out the color. The more you sand the wood, the more you'll remove the stain (obviously), but it can produces some unique variations in the grain - up to you, but again, be sure to experiment on some pieces before applying to your final project.
For the finish, I use a clear semi-gloss Poly Whey Furniture Finish from Vermont Natural Coatings. This is a really easy-to-use finish with low odor, quick dry time, and it feels great to the touch. I can't recommend it highly enough, and you have it shipped right to you from Amazon. I like to lightly sand with 400-grit sandpaper after each coat to keep that super smooth feel, and I would recommend applying 3 coats of this finish.
So what will you build now that you know how easy it is to get this vintage wood look? I've got a few projects up my sleeve, and when you think about, the sky's the limit. Imagine building your own farm or a little box for holding those bathroom towels that you're not suppose to use - whatever!
Let me know if you have any ideas in the comments below, and I would love to see what you build.
#woodworking #DIY #woodstain

[@GadgetsandGrain]

Hey all. I made an updated version of this video over here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKfchp6JmtOKgZI It takes into account most of the great questions you've left over the years (and that I just didn't think of at the time). Let me know what you think.

[@jamesleesley]

Hello, is this what you used to coat it (link below)? Also, would you happen to know what the difference is using a simply finish and using the Vermont Coatings you used? Thanks. www.amazon.com/Vermont-Natural-Coatings-Furniture-Finish/dp/B002MMMR14/ref=pd_ybh_a_10?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ZNY7S0K91J4PR67Z4EVR

[@jamesleesley]

Note that the Vermont Coatings that I linked to on Amazon says "Made Green" on the bottom of the can. I'm not sure why, but is that the same stuff you used?

[@remingtonlandyn5862]

i realize I'm kinda off topic but do anyone know of a good website to watch newly released series online ?

[@jalenorion2622]

@Remington Landyn flixportal

[@remingtonlandyn5862]

@Jalen Orion thanks, I signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :D I appreciate it!!

[@debbymccormack6525]

Your son will always remember being in the workshop and spending time with you. That's priceless!

[@GadgetsandGrain]

He's my little helper :)

[@cadmium7690]

That's as touching or more so, than the video technique

[@ItsJustMeMcKee]

So true, I spent many hours with my dad in the workshop, and to this day I'm still close and love doing things with him.

[@guyh.4553]

AGREED!!!! That is how I learned how to do woodworking was with my dad. Even with his dementia, he still wants to do projects with me

[@danalaniz7314]

Very nice. I tried the steel wool method but wasn't very happy with it. Your video has inspired me to try again. So cool that you include your son in the work. My dad did that with me and I still remember it at 70 years old. Thanks for posting!

[@zerobambiro]

Sounds sweet 😊

[@hrlnmlclm]

My kind of tutorial. Less talk, straight to the point demonstration.

[@RebeccaAndFamily]

My kind of video as well!

[@connieyun8197]

YUP!!!Very clear. Better than a lot of talk. I like the fat little boy, he is so cute.

[@grahamcore210]

Halcyon

[@arturohornedo3255]

I was just thinking the same!

[@wsksklyn2541]

Best tutorial using this technique so far. Can't wait to try it out. Your young assistant is adorable.

[@TheOldElement]

Your little guy reminds me of the days in the shop when I was a young boy. Epic job on making a video and memorys that will last a life time!

[@tim-hill]

Perfect! I just bought new 2x6 tongue and groove pine for a desk top. I wasn't too happy with getting new pine, but now I can't wait to use it!

[@viennagriffin]

So glad I came across your tutorial. I was about to spend more money than needed at the hardware store on stains. You explained the procedure thoroughly and I can't wait to do my dining room table top with this finish. Great job to you and your son.

[@Pamsmith59]

LOVE that your little son is right there beside you. Way to be a great Dad! Oh, and thanks for the great distressing tips :)

[@lonniecrook1684]

Just the result I was looking for. Good video, simple process. Well done. Will be truying it out on a dog gate for my my son's house. Thank you!!

[@isaacmadhavan]

Great result - with such a simple technique! Thank you for sharing.

[@danalaniz7314]

This is just the color combination I was looking for. Looks so much better than others posted online. Thanks a lot.

[@sg4682]

Finally a video that shows how exactly to get that grey wood look - many thanks sir

[@lisamiller5311]

going to try technique, like the way you explained each step, thank you!

[@michaelkidd6645]

This is the BEST tutorial I've ever seen! He doesn't waist a second! Thanks man!

[@bigstackD]

Cool simple and easy to do at home👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😁👍🏻

[@tlcafj60]

Thanks for the tutorial. Very concise, no extra talking and you have the link right there for more info. I have 1/2 a room of shiplap to do this weekend and this is really going to help.

[@christy8771]

I love this video! Like everyone mentioned, I like it is straightforward and to the point. Thank you for sharing!!!

[@elizabethmole-daren5702]

I used your method to age the new wood used ti repair the playhouse I made 30 years ago. It worked perfectly. Thanks

[@guyh.4553]

Great video! Wow! What a finish! As was said earlier, less talk more show. The thing that I REALLY LIKE is the written description & instructions you've added. Kudos!

[@_lefeves]

Awesome! I'll definitely be trying this soon.

[@renobtankit6019]

Love the look of the treated wood, good job.

[@RebeccaAndFamily]

Great video! Your video has the clearest instructions I have seen on KZbin yet!

[@GadgetsandGrain]

+RebeccaAndFamily Thanks!

[@effiegee1426]

Lovely colour, thanks very much!

[@Mombierella]

Great tutorial. Like how it is just presented very simply. 👍

Finally found someone who is giving nice finnish to wood, and not just simply smashing it ramdomly, and trying painting like it was a bob ross artwork

[@1AXMRDR]

Nice video. Thank you for sharing your technique. Great results.

[@GadgetsandGrain]

Thanks for watching!

[@180SecondIdeas]

Excellent. Enjoyable and informative. Solid production value. Thanks.

[@GadgetsandGrain]

+180 Second Ideas Thank you!

[@1AGRIPPINAONE]

Great lesson, quick and easy, thanks!

[@johnnymensi1865]

That is just what I have been looking for. OMG!!

[@brightchange6065]

OUTSTANDING !!

[@face0907]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skill. God bless~!!

[@nelsonw2096]

Nice work. Straight up and simple. One thing I learned from experience is that if you leave that SOS pad in the vinegar for > a week it turns to rust and you get a messy rust coating on your boards that doesn't look like anything and doesn't really clean up. In other words, throw that stuff out after a week if you have leftover. Cheers

[@9700am]

Excellent vid, and I really like the written method in the link. I am really impressed with the finished colour. Here in the UK, Pine is the most commonly available timber. It’s hard to make look good, but your presentation has changed that for me. Many thanks.🇬🇧

[@GadgetsandGrain]

Cheers!

[@lgbabbs]

This is THE best video for the aging process - thank you! Your little sidekick is priceless!

Very helpfull tutorial. Thank you!

[@charleneevans5194]

PS I am starting the first step of tea application tonight, so hope to hear soon! Thank you!! Great video, I must have tried tons of stains to get look and nothing until I yours.

[@dawoodajajmi5204]

Well done, you are a creative I wish you success 👍👍👍very good

[@mydesignstutorials]

Are you Serious? This is the BEST Stain tutorial. Been looking for an alternative process. Will check out your other tutorials. Pretty sure I will subscribe. Thank you, thank you, thank you. P.S. and thank you for just “getting to the point”.

[@Robocoppat]

finally someone who explained the wood aging process in lamens terms. GREAT video and Great Job. and tell your son he did a great job. consider me a subscriber.

[@GadgetsandGrain]

+patrick mcglone Much appreciated! Thanks Patrick!

[@ccummings4892]

I truly agree with you 😉

[@johnrhodes3350]

Layman's

[@vimeosux]

Mind blown. Thanks

[@brettsilva7317]

That is awesome and beautiful!

[@Irenef7]

very nice, made it look easy!!

[@othmanmarei9246]

Awesome video .. beautiful results... big like

[@GadgetsandGrain]

Thanks for watching!

[@BryanForsyth1]

This is awesome love the look.

[@danabeeproductions6212]

Thank you~Am building a pallet coffee table for my niece. This is EXACTLY what she likes in colour. Got the industrial casters and we will knock this out of the soccer park!

[@GadgetsandGrain]

Good luck!

[@Apassionist]

Wow, I am so impressed! All of this is readily available in the house!!!!! I wanted to ask, if I wanted to use a metallic gilding wax over this, would it work? Also how would I protect it then? Thanks in advance!

[@Diaz1382]

Thanks ! U make it look easy something I’m definitely going to try

[@GadgetsandGrain]

Good luck!

[@artsmith103]

I just bought a cheap entertainment center I'm going to use as a kitchenette counter in the man cave I'm building that has a color similar to this. Plan to install pine Waynes coating. Now I have a plan for the wood treatment.

[@siamiaw]

many thanks for the tips !! no more cash waste for me to buy wood stain at hardware store. thank you soo much. may the force be with u :)

[@cassiejo0012]

GORGEOUS!

[@jodidavis6595]

Thank you for sharing. Love it

[@18snufkin1988]

Thanks for video! it helped me a lot

[@Aknoxinvestimentos]

Love it, amazing video!

[@ooloncolluphid7904]

Good stuff, man. I was introduced to using tea a long time ago, but I hadn't used it in conjunction with anything. Gonna have to try this in the shop this week! Oh, and thank you for giving us actual _information,_ rather than the ubiquitous click-bait "see my website for the rest" crap. Liked & Subbed.

[@GadgetsandGrain]

Thanks! I do what I can.

[@eremie2899]

This was awesome thanks for sharing

[@UnrealMaliha]

Oooomg this is brilliant. I am gonna try thissss

[@coreybyrum]

Awesome, concise video, thanks! What steps should I include to get a more dark brown finish? As opposed to the slate dark grey look in the video.

[@jameshancock7285]

Enjoyed this video. Will definitely be trying this. I'm trying to give new wood a sun bleached look. Do you have a video on how to do that?

[@rogerbockman8654]

Awesome video, very well done! Thanks for sharing your ideas and doing it in a no nonsense, straightforward way. Gotta say I love the song too, may I ask where you found it? Keep up the good work!

[@PeritoSmrdiTo]

Great video! :) Kid is cute and the music is awesome too!! :) Good luck!

[@michigangirl3089]

So here's what happened when I tried this today. When I put the tea on first and THEN the vinegar/steel wool mixture, it turned a dark gray. When I put the vinegar mixture on and THEN the tea, it turned a rustic, barnwood brownish gray color. I tried it on a piece of Ikea unfinished pine (a shelf that was delivered damaged, which made for great stain testing!). My vinegar mixture was made two days ago, so tomorrow I'm going to test it out again and see what happens.

[@michigangirl3089]

I'm loving the color!! I only left mine for two days, then sanded it. Wish I could show you, it's beautiful!! Didn't do the tea, thought it was much too gray for what I wanted. It's perfect!!

[@nekotfarmer]

Thanks for the follow up!

[@chasingwaves11]

so awesome!!

[@suziefelix7857]

Great job!

[@auseksteens9298]

Wow amazing!

[@woodmoodmc8916]

Well done! For outdoor wich product would you recomend afetrr the vinegar? Thanks!

[@dubiousjesse]

I wish I could like the video twice! Great job. I will be using this color on my kids beds. Will adding more vinegar to the steel wool once it’s done get the same stain consistency as the first batch?

[@Kikilang60]

Thanks, nice video. I was trying to figure out how to remove the color from wood. I've seen people use bleach, but knew someone who could turn yellow pine a grayish with. They never told me how to do it.

[@crystalmorgan1234]

This was a great video! You stated you can save the solution. Will that affect how it performs, the longer you wait to use it? Also, do you know how long the left over solution is good for?

[@manyam5794]

Thank you for the great video. ...❤️ your little helper!!! I tried the vinegar solution (no tea) and my chairs are dark... please let me know how to make them a lighter colour ( grey with golden wood tones) It takes for ever to sand them and still a very light grey colour remains. Any easy technique besides sanding? Thank you...😊

[@sheilamaclean968]

Great - no unnecessary dialogue, just show me! Thanks, can't wait to try on an old chest of drawers top!

[@ccummings4892]

Fantastic! ! Thank you 😉

[@flix4u]

Really neat!

[@maryholme-shaw3962]

Great video, I'm inspired! It was a pleasure to watch. What was the music in the background, I really enjoyed it as well;)

[@user-yn3of5le5r]

Cool work👍 Thank you man!

[@danieladam5524]

wow. great video!!

[@charleneevans5194]

HI! I tried this application on a pine sample and love it for a farmhouse table my husband built! My question is... I like your second sample ( without poly ) because it is more gray than brown- I saw you mentioned poly will change the color! Have you tried a poly that has not changed the color? I want more gray than brown, thoughts?

[@deckieg1]

beautiful job... I want to get good at woodwork... I subscribed based on the music alone :)

[@TruthSayer2007]

50 people need a hug.

[@alvinfauzi5687]

AWESOME !!

[@GadgetsandGrain]

+Vici Valuzev Thanks!

[@reconbandit28]

Thank you

[@julianaleo631]

Excellent! Thank you for sharing. Now I can do that project I was hoping to do. Juliana in NJ

[@GadgetsandGrain]

+Juliana Leo Thank you!

[@mitch5077]

I've tried all kinds of wood, but Cedar is my favorite then Pine.

[@meliss36]

Awesome!!!

[@LeoSantos-cn2hh]

Awesome video, My only question is , since you used a vinegar base what kind of poly would you use to protect an entire floor?

[@lschiaffino]

Hello, and thanks for your video. Would you recommend this method of staining wood for carved spoons? I've started spoon carving a few months ago, and I've seen that some people stain their spoons with this method, but I feel funny about the steel wool, in the surface of the spoon. Thanks for your comments!

[@amyd5986]

Love the tutorial and Can't wait to try it! What sealer would you recommend that would not change the color result?

[@GadgetsandGrain]

I don’t have a good answer for that yet, Amy. I’m hoping to re-do this video soon and experiment with different finishes.

[@MsPlancon]

Thank you Gadgets & Grain, this was helpful! If I want a lighter brown and more grey/weathered tones what would you suggest for pine wood?

[@GadgetsandGrain]

I recently replaced coffee with tea and it gave me a much more brown hue than what is shown in this video, so you can try that. If you even need to lighten the color, you can always achieve that through sanding. Hope that helps.

[@stormyalice]

My mind was blown.

[@josegomez7051]

THANKS!

[@lucilacrottoposse]

hey, love your video, i`ve tried this but had problems with the vinegar odor, how do you solve that? greetings from Argentina

[@aryoprionggo]

saving this video

[@waynenelson4544]

I made a 24 x 30 frame for a puzzle I put together and used pine 1 x 4 and this recipe for stain except I didn't read it close enough and used a different number steel wool and not the recommended #0000 and I was impressed with the results. Maybe cause I did it lol

[@GadgetsandGrain]

+Wayne Nelson Thanks for sharing, Wayne. Would love to see how it turned out. Feel free to post a photo on my Facebook page or Twitter feed. Or send me an email: jeremy [at] gadgetsandgrain.com

[@deniseramosgonzalez4799]

Loved how you went straight to the point. Was that a Cal Poly sweatshirt? I’m here in the central coast myself 😊 For my next project I will definitely try this.

[@soletsstartcooking]

suscribed =), i know this video has been posted awhile back but after sanding it for the last step, would this still be ok to use as a dining table? meaning will it be waterproof enough so that if i spill something on the wood will it warp the wood?

[@varunmehta6097]

Hi.. This looks gr8.. How long would the woods oxidation last if we use this on external elevation of my house..

[@jocelynattard4946]

I am going to use this method on my kitchen.Do you recommend it? Do you think the colour will last?

[@user-mg5zk3lq4z]

Do you think I might have to prepare the double proportion for aging a table desk? Thanxxx in advance!!!

[@somuchinfo]

wow! very nice

[@nangan838]

Great video! Does the technique work on pine wood?